Improvement: Jose Mourinho has been given the seal of improvement. (Picture: Getty)

Sir Alex Ferguson has backed new Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho to be a ‘massive improvement’ on previous boss Louis van Gaal.

Excitement around Jose Mourinho’s appointment was ramped up when the 53-year-old was officially unveiled at Old Trafford yesterday, addressing the media for the first time in typical confident fashion.

Mourinho spoke with ambition as he told the media that ‘he wants everything’ before revealing that he and the club are targeting one more major transfer target.

Sir Alex Ferguson stepped down as the manager of Manchester United three years ago and, in that time, the club have had four different men in charge (if you consider Ryan Giggs’ interim period).

More worryingly, perhaps, is the fact that during that time only Louis van Gaal has picked up silverware – even that was in his last ever game for the club.

It was a tough ask for any manager to fill the footsteps left by Ferguson, a challenge David Moyes felt the weight of more than anybody else. Van Gaal was hired to steady the ship, Mourinho is here to take the next step – a notion Ferguson believes in.

‘I thought Jose was wrong to go back to Chelsea…I think it is always difficult to go back somewhere for a second time.

‘But in terms of ability, charisma, personality, success he’s had, he’s won the Champions League with two different clubs, he won league titles with all the teams he’s been at…his record, you can’t ignore.

‘I think United is the right kind of club for him and I think he’ll do really well.’